Third Sunday of Advent

Message from Pastor Mori 

Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter    Message from Pastor Mori Dear Ravenswood Fellowship family,   Have you ever heard about Blue Christmas services?  According to the UMC webpage about Blue Christmas services which is sometimes called, "The Longest Night Worship. The Longest Night is a worship service that may be planned at any time during Advent, but for many churches, it is celebrated on December 21, the longest day of the year. It acknowledges that, for many people, Christmas is a time of loneliness, sorrow, alienation, sadness. This service offers a way for people to claim those feelings and still feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God. In some churches, it is also known as Blue Christmas. Advent and Christmas are supposed to be a joyful time of year. However, for some of us, the holidays are not always joyful. Especially this year, we all have been disrupted by the pandemic. For some, this means a loss of a job, for others loss of a loved one. Some of us need to deal with illness, isolation, and we all stressed for many reasons. The world has also experienced tragic violence and we have become re-aware of systemic injustice.  I want to invite you to the Blue Christmas Service. The Blue Christmas Service is a time and a place to come if Christmas reminds you of what has changed and who isn't going to be with your family this year.   It's a time for a peaceful space, the ability to remember, and permission to sit both with the loss and with the presence of an ever-loving God who sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit for comfort.    Come to experience contemplative music, a time for reflection and prayer, spoken words of hope, and candles of remembrance lit during the service. This year, our Blue Christmas service will be on Saturday, December 19, at 7:00 PM, and we will use the same Zoom link that we use for Sunday worship    If you need the Zoom link:  https://zoom.us/j/806489040.                              Or call in at 1-312-626-6799 (Meeting ID: 806 489 040).    I hope you all have a blessed Advent and Christmas season filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love found in Jesus Christ.   Blessings    Pastor Mori      Give on PayPal Give on PayPal Community Info & Links See's Candy   Thanks to all who supported our Sees candy fundraiser.  The candy has been delivered to the church and is ready to be picked up.  Teddi Olson has been reaching out to everyone who placed orders to make pick-up or delivery arrangements.  Please contact Teddi with any questions.   A big thank you to Teddi for heading this project every year.  We love the candy and appreciate her hard work!   Thank you all!    Important Announcement  2021 Budget Special Charge Conference  Please join us for a Budget Special Charge Conference with our District Superintendent, Rev. Brittany Isaac following worship service on Sunday, December 20.  We will use the same Zoom link as the worship service. The topic for discussion is the 2021 budget for Ravenswood Fellowship UMC.  All are welcome to attend. Advent Worship Litanies by Upper Room Weekly Advent candle lighting reflections to be used at home. Worship gives us a chance to read and reflect and pray remotely.  Every Wednesday, you can watch and participate in the worship through the Ravenswood Fellowship Facebook page (Here) at around 11:30 AM.  If you want to see the Advent litanies check here     Advent Book & Prayer Group        When it seems like the whole world is awash in lights, celebration, friends, and family, many among us feel an amplified sense of loss, grief, and disconnect. Blue Christmas, an Advent devotional book by Todd Outcalt, reminds us that even in our darkest times, God offers us hope and comfort if we are willing to bring our deepest fears into the light of God's love. You can choose a Thursday night online class or a Saturday morning, online class.  Zoom link  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85235718340 Meeting ID: 852 3571 8340  One tap mobile +13126266799,,85235718340# US (Chicago) * Week 2  Thursday 12/10  7:00 PM or Saturday 12/12  9:30 AM * Week 3  Thursday 12/17  7:00 PM or Saturday 12/19  9:30 AM  * Blue Christmas Virtual Worship Service Saturday 12/19 7:00 PM               Christmas Holiday Worship services schedule                                                  Saturday, December 19 - 7:00 pm Blue Christmas Service (Zoom)     Thursday, December 24 - 8:00 pm Christmas Eve service (Zoom) All services can be attended via Zoom by going to this link at: https://zoom.us/j/806489040. Or call in at 1-312-626-6799                         (Meeting ID: 806 489 040).  Church office staff working remotely Continuing through the end of January Following the guidelines issued from the Illinois Governor, the church office staff will continue to work remotely through the end of the year.  The office will be closed for in-person visiting. For an emergency or for ministry needs, the pastor will continue to work at the office.   If you have a question feel free to contact: ravfelumc@yahoo.com  / Phone: 773-561-2610    Japanese American Service Committee   The Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) is a social services agency located nearby at 4427 N. Clark St. about a half mile to our east.  Check out what types of programs and services they offer by clicking here to visit their website.  While the JASC offers many Japanese culturally based classes and programs, it is open to everyone. NIC Christmas Institute - (Dec. 26 - 28)    This year's Christmas Institute theme is "Road Trip!" Organizers decided on this theme as a way to take participants all on a "virtual" trip during this time of quarantine. The event, a tradition for Filipino churches, is open to all youth and young adults and will be held via Zoom. The cost is $30. Click here to learn more and to register.   Weekly Sermon Phone Service                                         If you do not have computer access or cannot access our Sunday worship service through a smart phone, we now have a sermon by phone service, which is available at any time!  The phone number is (773) 219-0861.  You can listen to a recent version of Pastor Mori'ss Sunday sermon and it's free!   Meeting Announcements SPRC           December 15, Tuesday 7:00 PM   Special Budget Church Conference           December 20, Sunday 11:30 AM    Obachan's (Japanese Grandma) Daidokoro (Kitchen)  おばあちゃん の 台所 Jane Ogasawara has given us her old cookbooks, "Oryori" and "Itadakimasu" which were shared by the Japanese faith community,  Here is a delicious secret recipe from Obachan!   OYAKO DOMBURI  (Rice with chicken and egg)  6 C. cooked rice 1-1/2C. chicken 2 C. chicken stock  1/3 C. soy sauce 3 T. sugar   1/4 C. sake  3 takenoko, cut into small think stripe 5 eggs. beaten 2 green onions. chopped    Cook chicken in stock. Season with sugar, soy sauce sake/Adds takenoko. Bring to boil. Add eggs and cook until barely set. Spoon over hot rice in donburi bowls. (Larger than rice bowls.) Toast nori over a low flame until crisp; crumble Garnish donburi with green onions. Serves 5. Original recipe: Orori staff  Glossary: Takenoko - Bamboo shoots.                                     After Covid-19 Updates.  Read about the Phases for Re-Opening here. Is that document too long? Read the summary version here.                                                 Links for Worship.  Join Zoom worship by going to this link at 10:30 AM on Sunday: https://zoom.us/j/806489040. Or call in at 1-312-626-6799 (Meeting ID: 806 489 040).  Let's boost our worship! Please sign-up for Worship Bible Reader. Advent and Christmas time scripture and sermon title is here and Bible reader Sign-Up here. Young People's Bible Study. Ages 12-18 are invited to join the Zoom discussion of Jesus stories at 9 AM on Sunday mornings. Join the Zoom call here (Meeting ID: 828 2305 3546, One-tap mobile+13126266799) Want prayer? During our Prayers of the People, we will read your prayer requests. Submit your prayer requests here. Download. Get your bulletin here. Having trouble? Try logging off and logging back on to Zoom during the video. Or simply log off and call in.  Missed last week? Check out the Facebook Live video on our page here.  Give on PayPal Our mailing address is: 4511 North Hermitage Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 Contact us at: ravfelumc@yahoo.com (773) 561-2610 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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